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I have some really small stock that I need to taper and am not sure how to go about it. I need to taper a rosette tile log that is about 6mm x 6mm sqaure by 200mm long. I want to taper the two bottom sides so when I cut the rosette tiles off the log, they will form a 4" diameter circle. I figure it should be easier to taper the entire log vs. trying to sand each individual tile to fit the circle. Does anybody have any good ways to do this?

Thanks!

John

I don't know what kind of equipment you have, but here are some possibilities. I'm assuming you are discounting cutting with a table saw or band saw because you need a very smooth cut and want to minimize waste (these logs take a long time to make).

Make a jig to hold it at an angle on a shooting board, and use a hand plane.

Make a jig to hold it at an angle, and use a thickness sander, or disc sander mounted in a drill press.

As for me, I already have a tilting vise and a drill press disk sander, so I'd stick it in the vise, tilt it at what angle I want, and run it under the disk sander.

Another way to get a very clean edge would be to use a jig with a bearing guided router bit.

Me thinks sanding safest.

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

John, how long are these pieces? Remember my nut holding jig? And the saddle jig? You could bolt it up in a tapered jig, and sand until you reach your setting. ?

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Bruce,

I just checked out your saddle jig on your website. I think that might be the ticket to hold it. How are you controlling the angle you sand, freehand maybe? The log will be about 9 inches long, with the sides being approx. 6 mm.

The shooting board might also be a good option. Still need to think this through. One thing for sure though is I need very consistant results otherwise my circle won't match up.

Thanks!

John

John,

Here's a link to David Schramm's rosette making page. Looks like he tapers the pieces before glueing up the log.

http://schrammguitars.com/rosettemaking.html

CrowDuck

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Chris Nielsen
Soquel, CA.

I have his Hauser CD also which demonstrates making a rosette. I even have a guitar built by him. The problem is he doesn't really say how he tapers the individual strips. He tapers from .025" at the top and .021" at the bottom. Since my pattern is one solid color on the edges, I think I can taper the completed log vs. the individual strips and get the same results. David has individual colors on the outside which might get sanded away if he needed to taper the entire log vs. a little from each strip.

Do you know what techniqu he uses for sanding his strips?

John

John,

No, I don't know how he tapers/sands the strips. I think you are right about about tapering the entire log, since it's a solid color at the edge. I would cut a piece of stock to the same size as your square log, and experimment by sanding or cutting a taper until you can cut a tile that works, then use that as a pattern to taper the actual log. Or email Dave and ask? Here's the address.

dave@schrammguitars.com

CrowDuck

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Chris Nielsen
Soquel, CA.

Cut the angle you want on the leading edges, similar to my back taper on the nut holder. But even more like my nut removal tool, in which I'm trying to hold it at a perfect 90 degrees.

In your case, you need to cut your holder leading edges to the precise angle you need. I'd use a table saw. Plywood would be a good choice. Pictures. we want to see too.

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